My first away game in the flesh for at least a season and I enjoyed it BUT
really it was a average performance in a poor game in dreadful conditions.The
weather really put a dampner on proceedings it was awful, it was blustery and
very cold and pretty much poured down the whole game, so it was difficult for
the players and hard to get our passing game goingIt was a game of very few
clear cut chances and strangely, given the weather, neither side seemed to want
to shoot and no-one tested the keeper with long range pot shots that would have
caused problems.We did just about deserve the victory but it was scrappy and
hard fought, a real down in trenches type victory - 'winning ugly' as they call
it.At the final whistle it was another clean sheet (4 in 5 now with a makeshift
defence) and 5 wins on the bounce, so it is hard to be anything other than
pleased and impressed.
Like many fans I am gutted that Saiz is leaving, he is my favourite player in
the current crop insofar as he is the one who I most enjoy watching, but this
game would not have been one for him.
The first 10-15 minutes we were on fire and looked as if today would be the day
that the 'we are going to give someone a real hammering' belief came true.
Unfortunately all our dominance came to nothing and we let them get a foot hold
in the game as it petered out a bit. I can only recall one real chance when a
good cross from Alioski was headed goalwards by Pablo but the keeper pushed it
over the bar.
At half time the discussion was about whether Bielsa would again prove his
worth and do something to change things, and early , or would he just let the
game carry on the same. Well, true to form he took off the totally ineffectual
Baker (I really hoped at the start of the season that he would be good for us
and when that did not work out I hoped he would be a decent replacement for
Saiz, but again he totally failed to take his chance and it could be a long
time before we see him again) and he sent on the lively Clarke - this lad
really is a talent and his directness and quality shone through and made a
massive difference from his first touch. He made one early run right in front
of us when despite being fouled he went past 2 players as if they were not
there and put in what would have been a good cross but it was cleared for a
corner. Bielsa then made his other change, he took off Roofe who had failed in
the hour he was on the pitch to make any difference and pretty much never
touched the ball - it really was not his day, and brought on Bamford, and it
worked.
Roofe had suffered with a total lack of service but with Clarke on the pitch
and being more of a prescence (I was surprised how strong Bamford is) Bamford
got much more involved.
The general feeling was that one goal would sort this and the first goal would
be all important and we got it, and what a goal it was, one worthy of winning
any game - a good piece of Bielsaball meant that we kept hold of it for a while
and then Pablo (having had a very quiet game himself) produced that one bit of
quality and provided a lovely ball to Bamford who finished with great aplomb, a
real bit of style and showed with that finish why we paid all that money for him
Phillips came close after that with a header just past the post but we never
really produced another piece of magic that would have put it beyond doubt -
the best bit of football was when an overhit ball came to Shackleton right by
the touchline in front of where I was stood , his skill in controlling it was
sublime, a real bit of ability to top a decent all round performance by the
diminutive full back - loved it
We did come close to throwing 2 points away when a corner was met by an
unmarked Bolton player whose header looked destined for a goal till a Leeds
player on the line (not sure who) headed it clear - a real game saving piece of
defending
So with Pontus to the fore we managed to hang on to a hard fought and just
about deserved 3 points even if we were not at our best
Going forward both Clarke and Bamford have got to get more game time - Clarke
will rip many a defence apart and Bamford looked pure quality , Roofe will need
to score lots of goals over the Christmas and New Year period if he is to keep
his place (which is still his on merit at present)
Can we keep it up , only time will tell but if we get the likes of Ayling and
Cooper back sooner rather than later and if Izzy Brown can fill the void left
by Saiz then promotion is a real possibilty
Full marks to the whole squad and management to go from being hammered at West
Brom and to have 2 right backs , and the captain and centre half out injured
and having kids playing and still get 15 points from 5 games whilst only
conceeding one goal is nothing short of miraculous. I would love to see us do
well at Villa and get one or even 3 points but I think we will be well beaten
but it will not derail us this time
Dave
On Saturday, 15 December 2018, 17:37:17 GMT, Richard Walker via Leedslist
<[email protected]> wrote:
That was a really poor game where we were the better team but never looked
convincing. There's no way that our starting eleven would hang on for the top
10. There's just not enough quality.
The conditions didnt help and players were slipping all over the place but it's
still doesn't excuse all the poor passing for us. The amount of short passes
and passes that just didn't make their target was criminal.
I think second half with Clarke and Bamford on we looked much more dangerous.
Clarke is a talent and he should start. He immediately made an impact just by
getting the ball and running at peopel. He has that rare skill which allows him
to ghost people which is not just down to a bit of acceleration but also about
great feet and balance.
The goal was a great move. Roofe hadn't had a touch in 50 minutes and every
ball that had come his way he just squandered. Hernandez got the ball and
played it through to the advancing Bamford. Bang, on his wrong foot, back of
the net. His first touch. What a goal and what a player he looks. Roofe has
done well but it's clear even from 30 minutes in the rain Bamford is class
above. He is one of these players who always looks like he has time on the
ball. A class act and hopefully he will start against Villa.
Here's my scores:
Peacock - 7. Nothing to do but he caught the balls he needed to.
Shackleton - 8. What a great little player. He defender and harried well,
mopped up all over the park and pushed forward when he could. He could be a
real star for us.
Douglas - 5. I was disappointed again today with Douglas. His defending at
times is schoolboy and there were a few times today where he just got himself
into trouble. Going forward his passing was also poor.
Jansson - 9. Our best player today. All the defending that had to be done he
did. Superb.
Philips - 6. He didn't do badly but when it comes down to basic defending he's
lacking. Have a look at their penalty claim. Ok, Forshaw's back pass was
terrible but Philips wasn't aware and ended up nearly conceding a pen. On the
flip side he made some good interceptions and built well from the back. Never a
centre back though and if we think we can get away with this away at Villa and
the likes we are dreaming.
Forshaw - 7. Overall I thought he did everything he needed to do in these
conditions. He made a lot of mistakes but he made up for that with tackle after
tackle.
Hernandez - 6. Poor game and he didn't influence until the goal but that's the
difference. It only takes one bit of brilliance , one decent pass that can
change a game.
Allioski - 6. Did a lot of running, heading , tackling and also a couple of
good crosses. Possibly one of his better games but nowhere near good enough for
me.
Baker - 3. I was willing the lad to do well because I think he's got ability
but as soon as he made that bad mistake where he lost possession in his own
half you could see the confidence just drain away. He then started berating his
team mates for not being where they should be when actually it was just a poor
ball from him. He hasn't had much chance but I think performances like this are
not going to help his cause.
Kilch - 5. He had lots of possesion but didn't do anything with it and ended up
running out of steam and becoming a bit of a liability. He did have one good
shot second half that was well save. I've been disappointed with him recently.
Roofe - 1. I can't really give him anymore than that because he did nothing and
I mean nothing in 50 minutes of football. His fans will say he had no service.
Yep I get that but look at Bamford when he came on , he made runs, held up the
ball, played clever link up flicks. Roofe did none of that and he doesn't have
the pace and awareness to lead the line on his own. Yes he's done amazingly
well this season and I applaud him for that but for me he isn't a number 9 and
we should be looking at other options now.
Subs:
Clarke - 8. Brilliant. Changed the game. Bamford - 10. Reminds me of Cantona.
Did I just say that ?Halme - wasn't on long but won a couple of headers.
Looking at this lad over a few games I think he might be a defender. An awkward
defender (think Peter Haddock).
Top of the league - 5 wins in a row since the hamering at West Brom and we're
not playing well. Bloody hell.
On Saturday, 15 December 2018, 16:27:56 GMT, Richard Walker via Leedslist
<[email protected]> wrote:
Clarke has made the difference - Bamford 1-0 first touch. Different class.
On Saturday, 15 December 2018, 16:04:18 GMT, Richard Walker via Leedslist
<[email protected]> wrote:
Baker off Clarke on
On Saturday, 15 December 2018, 15:52:14 GMT, Richard Walker via Leedslist
<[email protected]> wrote:
Watching on internet (http://coinsport.me/626075/1) - looks dodgy but it's ok
link.
Very poor first half. Conditions difficult but we've been poor. Baker looks
like he's on a different wavelength from his team mates and Roofe has hardly
had a touch.
We keep giving the ball away and giving them chances (philips, forshaw).
the one good thing is that they are very , very poor.
Clarke and Bamford on for me.
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